Monday, December 31, 2007

William Osborne - Repeat Sex Offender

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A convicted sex offender who has challenged the DNA evidence to prosecute him in a 1993 case is again in serious trouble with the law.

William Osborne has served time for raping, beating and shooting a woman and leaving her for dead.

Police said he was one of four men involved in a violent home invasion, Friday night. If proven guilty of the accusations, they could be sent away to jail for life.

Twenty-six year-old Dylan Wright, 24 year-old Kristopher Schell and 35 year-old William Osborne are accused barging into an apartment near 53rd and Arctic Boulevard with their faces hidden behind masks and armed with guns.

Police said they used duct tape to bind the arms and legs of the people inside - two men and two women.

And that they beat the men and threatened the women, demanding money and valuables throughout the attack.

For prosecutors, it was enough to charge the trio with 18 felonies, including kidnapping, robbery, assault, weapons misconduct, and theft.

But for Osborne, it's not the first time he's been accused of frightening violence.

In 1993, Osborne and another man were accused and later convicted of brutally raping and beating a prostitute, leaving her for dead, and trying to hide the crime.

Channel 2 was unable to determine exactly when Osborne, a now convicted sex offender and sentenced to 26 years in that case, was released from jail.

Osborne has fought for years to overturn that conviction by challenging the DNA evidence against him.

Police said this latest case may be drug related. Osborne, Schell and wright will have to come up with $200,000 each for bail.

Police say a fourth suspect who managed to get away remains at large.

Since he was wearing a mask police say they don't have a good description, only that he is white and is 25-35.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 786-8900, or CrimeStoppers at 561-STOP